Director, Global Strategic Partnerships

About the role

About Us We're NUS Enterprise, the innovation and entrepreneurship heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS). We back bold ideas and ambitious talent with the potential to build impactful companies that transform the way we live, play, and work - and we're just getting started. As NUS Enterprise sharpens its global reach, we are building deeper strategic relationships across international innovation ecosystems, universities, corporates, investors, foundations, venture builders, technology communities, and public-sector platforms. The goal is not to collect more partnerships, but to build the few that matter - partnerships that create real access, real opportunities, and real outcomes for our startups, researchers, students, and global programmes. The Role As Director, Global Strategic Partnerships, you will lead high-value international partnership development for NUS Enterprise, with a primary mandate to secure external funding at a scale that materially strengthens NUS Enterprise's financial sustainability and reduces reliance on central funding. You are responsible for opening doors, shaping strategic relationships, and converting global networks into committed funding and tangible opportunities for venture creation, startup scaling, ecosystem development, entrepreneurship education, and technology translation. This is a senior, high-autonomy role for someone who can operate across markets, sectors, and institutional boundaries. You will not simply represent NUS Enterprise externally; you will help define where NUS Enterprise should show up globally, who we should partner with, and how those relationships should translate into outcomes. You will work closely with teams across NUS Enterprise, including Venture Creation, IP Commercialisation, Ecosystem, NUS Overseas Colleges, and Global Outposts. Your success will depend on your ability to combine external credibility with internal alignment - ensuring that global opportunities are not only exciting, but actionable, resourced, and converted into measurable value. You are expected to function as a superconnector across ecosystems and a strategic operator within NUS Enterprise. When you do not have the answer, you know who to call. When a relationship has potential, you know how to move it from conversation to commitment. This is a fully dedicated NUS Enterprise role, focused entirely on the unit's priorities; it does not carry the external-engagement allowance associated with academic appointments. Track Focus: Global Strategic Partnerships In this track, you will focus on building and activating partnerships that strengthen NUS Enterprise's global reach across priority markets and frontier sectors. You will focus on partnerships spanning: Global innovation hubs, universities, accelerators, incubators, and venture builders. Corporate innovation, venture client, and market access partners. Investors, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, philanthropic donors, and ecosystem funders capable of providing significant funding to NUS Enterprise. Emerging technology communities across AI, robotics, drones, climate, sustainability, advanced engineering, and frontier tech. Entrepreneurship education, STEM, talent, founder development, and social impact platforms. You will engage deeply with: Senior executives, founders, investors, ecosystem leaders, academic leaders, public agencies, and philanthropic partners. Partners who can provide market access, pilots, funding, mentorship, technical networks, landing pads, and programme collaboration. Internal NUS Enterprise teams that need external reach but require clear ownership, prioritisation, and follow-through. What You'll Do Funding and Financial Sustainability Lead the origination and conversion of external funding for NUS Enterprise, with the goal of progressively reducing reliance on central funding and strengthening the unit's financial sustainability. Build and steward relationships with funders capable of providing capital at scale, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, philanthropic donors, corporates, and grant bodies. Structure funding propositions, gift and sponsorship models, and multi-year commitments, working with internal teams to ensure appropriate governance, stewardship, and reporting. Global Partnership Strategy Develop and maintain a global partnership strategy aligned to NUS Enterprise's priorities in venture building, startup scaling, ecosystem development, global platforms, and entrepreneurship education. Identify priority markets, sectors, and partner categories where NUS Enterprise should build deeper strategic presence. Translate broad global networks into a focused partnership pipeline with clear strategic rationale and expected outcomes. Strategic Relationship Development Originate, cultivate, and manage senior-level relationships with high-value global partners. Serve as a credible external representative for NUS Enterpris

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